To the delight of Alabama’s craft beer community, Brewfest Season is officially back in the Yellowhammer State and the time for Magic City Brewfest draws near. This is the original Free the Hops festival that helped create much-needed change in the state’s antiquated beer laws, and 2017’s Magic City Brewfest promises to be one of the best yet by boasting over “175 types of beer from over 70 breweries.” Since this event is absolutely packed with amazing beer, delicious food, incredible live entertainment and insightful beer classrooms, we have quite a bit of information to go over. Let’s break it all down.

The Basics

What – 11th Annual Magic City Brewfest When – Two Sessions: Friday, June 9 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, June 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Where – Sloss Furnaces (20 32nd Street North, Birmingham, Alabama)

The Organization

“Free The Hops is a grassroots non-profit consumer advocacy organization whose successful lobbying efforts to reform hostile laws have helped make Alabama one of the most vibrant and welcoming beer markets in the USA. As a craft beer consumer advocacy organization, our mission is to work within our communities to educate the public, support the industry at large, and remain vigilant watch dogs on legislative processes. Started in 2004 by Alabamians with no ties to any alcoholic beverage business, Free The Hops was incorporated later that year and registered as an official 501(c)(6) non-profit in 2007. None of our members make any money off the grassroots effort.”

A New Focus

“This year, Free the Hops has overhauled their mission to focus more on education. We will be sharing a wealth of fun and useful knowledge, from an introduction to homebrewing and common off flavors in beer, to tips on pairing beer with food and maximizing your time at the festival. We will have an overview of the Cicerone curriculum, and details on various beer styles and serving methods.”

The Beer

In addition to showcasing over 175 beers from over 70 breweries, the 2017 Magic City Brewfest will also feature the following specialty releases:

Sponsored by The J. Clyde, the Alabama Cask Garden returns to feature one-off casks created by Alabama breweries exclusively for the Magic City Brewfest

The J. Clyde Fire Truck will be on-site to serve up some exclusive beers

This year’s Magic City Brewfest will also feature the Sister Cities Birmingham/Plzen Brewery Collaboration, a collaborative effort that had four Birmingham breweries (Cahaba Brewing Co., Avondale Brewing Co., Red Hills Brewing Company, and 5 Points Brewing) team up with breweries from Plzen, Czech Republic to create some exclusive beers for the festival. Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite collaboration brew from this series

If the event does not sell out in advance, tickets will be available at the door day of the event for $45 each. Designated driver tickets will also be available for $10 each.

Ticket price grants you entrance into the festival on your chosen date, a commemorative tasting glass, the ability to sample over 175 beers, and access to live entertainment and educational classrooms.

Now that all the details are covered, this is the part where we give the Magic City Brewfest – and this goes for its sister Rocket City Brewfest in Huntsville – our full, honest endorsement as one of the finest and best organized beer festivals in the country. The event is just big enough, the location is picturesque, the beers are top quality, and attention to detail is always the priority. If you are in Alabama or anywhere near the state on June 9 or 10, do yourself a favor and pencil the 11th Annual Magic City Brewfest into your plans. Seriously, do it. Prost!